Liminal Border Part III

Concise Game Reviews: "Criminal Border Part III" (クリミナルボーダー 3rd offence)

(Scroll down for the longer version)

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[th]Game Value:[/th]
[th]✅ Highly recommended for fans of crime drama visual novels with explicit adult content. Criminal Border Part III deepens the stakes as Itsuki moves beyond survival, aiming to dismantle the Umon-kai Yakuza. To do so, he seeks the help of Meryl Hathaway, a deadly enforcer from a foreign syndicate. Unlike the others, Meryl follows orders without question, making her loyalty uncertain. As conflicts escalate and alliances are tested, can Itsuki turn Meryl to his side before it's too late?[/th]
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[td]Mature Themes:[/td]
[td]✔Consensual Sex ✔Male Protragonist ✔Groping ✔Oral ✔Vaginal ✔Handjob ✔Sixty-nine ✔Foursome ✔Cowgirl ✔Doggy Style ✔Blonde ✔Petite ✔Hand-sized breasts ✔Big Breasts ✔Full Nudity[/td]
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[td]Genre Classification:[/td]
[td]Adult visual novel with crime drama elements, focusing on organized crime, deception, and power struggles in the underworld.[/td]
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[td]Censorship:[/td]
[td]Mosaic censorship; requires a patch to unlock adult content.[/td]
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[td]Game Length:[/td]
[td]Third part of a four-part series, offering several hours of linear story content with increasing tension leading into the finale.[/td]
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[td]Challenge Level:[/td]
[td]Not applicable; primarily a narrative-driven experience with minimal interaction.[/td]
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[td]Graphics:[/td]
[td]Hand-drawn visuals with a gritty and mature art style, enhancing the serious themes and intense atmosphere of the story.[/td]
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[td]Technical Stability:[/td]
[td]Runs smoothly with no major technical issues reported.[/td]
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[td]Replay Value:[/td]
[td]A mostly linear experience, but the rich narrative and strong character arcs make it worth revisiting before the final installment.[/td]
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Detailed Review:

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[td]Key Features:[/td]
[td]
🖼️ Gallery: Includes multiple sections:
- CG: 9 detailed erotic CGs featuring various scenes and character interactions.
- Scene: 5 H-scenes accessible for replay.
- Stand: View all character sprites, outfits, poses, and expressions.
- Favorite: Save and organize preferred CGs or scenes for quick access.
- Movie: 4 in-game videos, including the opening, credits, etc.

🎞️ Movies: Features high-quality animations that enhance crucial moments in the story.

⚙️ Interaction: A primarily linear visual novel experience focused on immersive storytelling.
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[th]🌟Overview:[/th]
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[td]"Criminal Border Part III" continues the thrilling story of Itsuki and his allies as they solidify their criminal enterprise. With their club operational and "Rave" selling successfully, Itsuki now turns his focus toward dismantling the Umon-kai for good. However, the road to power is fraught with danger, and he seeks out Meryl Hathaway—an enigmatic girl with ties to an overseas organization—to gain the upper hand.

This entry focuses heavily on Meryl as the central heroine, unraveling her stoic nature and hidden past. The writing delivers an engaging mix of suspense, intrigue, and dramatic character growth, all complemented by the same hand-drawn visual style that makes the series stand out.[/td]
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[th]🎮Gameplay:[/th]
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[td]
📖 Linear Story: A straightforward narrative with no major choices, relying on strong writing and tension.

🖼️ Gallery Features: Access CGs, H-scenes, character sprites, outfits, poses, and expressions in the Stand gallery.

🎶 Soundtrack & Backgrounds: Includes 19 unique backgrounds with variations and 25 immersive tracks enhancing the atmosphere.
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[th]🔞Adult Content:[/th]
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[td]Like the previous entries, this installment focuses on one heroine—Meryl. Initially distant, she gradually becomes more involved with Itsuki as he attempts to recruit her to his cause. Some intimate scenes also feature returning characters in group sex.

The game includes five erotic scenes featuring a mix of intimate and passionate encounters (foursome, cowgirl, missionary, doggy style, handjob, 69, oral, and vaginal). While the number of scenes is limited, they are beautifully illustrated with high-quality CGs. As expected, mosaic censorship is present, but it does not diminish the appeal of the artwork.[/td]
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[th]📖Story and Depth:[/th]
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[td]The tension reaches new heights as Itsuki carefully maneuvers between two powerful crime syndicates. As Meryl is drawn into his plans, her emotional transformation from a detached observer to an active participant adds depth to the story. The constant danger lurking beneath the surface keeps players on edge, culminating in one of the most shocking moments in the series so far.[/td]
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[th]🏆Verdict:[/th]
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[td]Criminal Border Part III is undoubtedly the most impactful entry in the series so far. The stakes are higher than ever, and the narrative takes a much darker and more intense turn. The writing is gripping, successfully capturing the brutality of the setting while maintaining strong character development. Meryl's role is particularly well-handled, and the way the story builds around her makes this episode stand out. The pacing is excellent, keeping players invested from start to finish, with moments that hit hard emotionally.

As the third installment of a four-part series, Criminal Border Part III serves as a crucial turning point leading into the grand finale. The world of Criminal Border has never felt more immersive, and the tension never more palpable. The buildup from the previous entries truly pays off here, making this episode a must-play for those who have followed the series so far.

That being said, this game is not for everyone. It has a heavier tone than the previous episodes, with a strong focus on the harsh reality of the criminal underworld. Those looking for a lighter crime drama or expecting a more traditional visual novel experience may find it overwhelming. However, for fans of deep, mature narratives with intense themes, this episode delivers one of the most gripping experiences in the series. Criminal Border 3rd Offence is highly recommended.[/td]
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[th]✅Good:[/th]
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[td]👍 Dark and Gripping Crime Narrative: The most intense and emotionally charged entry in the series so far, with high stakes and impactful storytelling.

👍 Meryl’s Character Arc: A compelling and well-integrated heroine whose development adds depth to the story.

👍 Stunning Hand-Drawn Artwork: Gritty and unique visuals that enhance the dark atmosphere of the game.

👍 Strong Emotional Payoff: The build-up from the previous episodes culminates in powerful moments that leave a lasting impression.
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[th]🛠️Ways of Improvement:[/th]
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[td]👎 Limited Player Choices: A more interactive experience could increase engagement.

👎 CG Consistency Issues: While the art is generally excellent, a few scenes have slight off-model inconsistencies.

👎 Mosaic Censorship: As with previous entries, the presence of mosaics might detract from the visual appeal for some players.
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Finally I can be free \o/ It's been a while I wanted a story to end asap, to review it and forget about that *** (let me help steam here and use that sign myself, think of any rude word you can on your own;))

First of all, I'm still enraged at the devs. Perhaps, I'm in the wrong here and should assess the game separately but I'm sorry, I just can't. It really means a lot when the devs (usually the indie ones) are quick to respond on steam discussions or commenting your reviews or smth. It really matters when there's some kind of communication. I got a ban for a screenshot (from the first part) where absolutely nothing explicit was presented. As usual (years later nothing changes in this regard, sadly) steam support just washed their hands saying I should contact the devs directly as they may have their own rules on their respective hubs O_O can you even imagine that?! Any time you may be punished for smth you are not even aware of ⋋_⋌ Anyway, I emailed the devs immediately but...silence. Thank you very much for such a nice, considerate attitude to your players. I'm definitely not buying the last part or any other games.

Welp, now about the game per se. SPOILERS ahead. As much as I enjoyed the first part I hate all the next ones. The protagonist is one of the most despicable, disgusting people I ever read about. Destroying so many people (innocent ones as well) just for his own bloated ego ⋋_⋌ hiding behind all those excuses how it was for his (and his friends') survival and then actually talking about becoming the King and beating Yakuza (－‸ლ) It was so ridiculous and stupid, so I was not surprised at all when his dumb actions led to a tragic end, unfortunately, for others. And even after that tragic fate his aim has just become even bigger and even more unreachable, he truly doesn't learn. I bought the third part after I disliked the second one so much just for Tatsu's sake. So I really felt sorry for the boy but MC ⋋_⋌ Sleeping around with any girl in his reach, not even trying to find time for his 'best girl', he even dared to blame others?!(－‸ლ)

Their revenge was sickening. To force an innocent woman to suffer through the same deadly torture and her guy watch was even worse than the original crime. And it actually turned out the one they killed so mercilessly was not the main culprit. How cruel and rotten “people” can even be?! I don't want to justify them but you kinda expect yakuza, mafia etc to be cruel but to see teenagers even crueler, that's just too disturbing and disgusting. Especially when they tried to embellish their bloodcurdling deeds with some loft ideas ⋋_⋌ Gross! They've crossed that criminal border no one should ever dare even approach.

I love reading about villains and how people may be actually forced to change so drastically in a negative way but I can't possibly feel sorry for a guy who was ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ with a girl when his 'girlfriend' was being killed and then while grieving her death just continued with their intercourse. When even Yakuza guys are more decent than high school students, this world can't be saved. I hate it btw when the story makes me feel like some kind of prude :D

Some other minor things to complain about:
--a couple of typos
--can't make screenshots without steam notification at the bottom O_O
--I dislike that feature that the gallery is unlocked when it's full. I want to watch its progress
--In this part I couldn't enjoy the stand gallery because clicking through different characters made them just add up like shadows without disappearing
--you have to download the adult patch :(

The number of positive reviews must be a proof that perhaps it's just not up my alley. I wish I could not recommend it to my past self to avoid this sickening, infuriating experience.

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[th]More thoughts about the game in a Reading Nook [/th]
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"First the thicc sister of a school delinquent second the busty daughter of a yakuza leader, and now a young contract killer, the MC really gets a hard-on as soon as he sees a problematic girl or a girl with dangerous family members"

Review

✒️Overview

Eroge visual novel that is the third installment of Liminal Border, which delves deeper into the complex web of relationships and the criminal underworld that the protagonist, Itsuki Ninomae, has become entangled with after they set up their "rave" business. It also focuses its "romantic" section on the third love interest of the protagonist, Meryl Hathaway, who is characterized as a cold and quiet girl who has worked as an assassin since her youth and now tries to form a bond with Itsuki Ninomae.

📜Story

The narrative of this installment, as in the previous games, focuses on 2 plots, the romantic one, in which the protagonist establishes a relationship with a girl, having dates, conversations, intimate encounters, etc., and the other would be the one that continues the "main story", in which the protagonist's group wants to expand their rave business, having to deal with the new threats posed by the Umon-kai, a crime syndicate.
The series continues to explore themes of crime, identity, and moral ambiguity. The use of digital hypnosis as a plot device explores issues of control, consent, and the ethical implications of technology. The narrative also touches on themes of loyalty, betrayal, and the struggle for autonomy within a structured criminal hierarchy.
As the third and penultimate installment in the saga, this game lays the groundwork for the conflict of the final installment (which is sure to be quite dark), but more importantly, it completes several character arcs where it is easy to see how they have evolved, one of which is that of the protagonist. This change can be seen from the very beginning of this visual novel, as he shows himself to be more confident and positive, even though he is working under pressure, to the point of being able to help the heroine, Meryl, face the ghosts of her past. Although in addition to this change in the last quarter of the story, the story takes a rather abrupt turn and the protagonist develops completely by facing a very tragic situation the death of Hina Yorozuya, which the mc avenges in a brutal way , which ends up plunging him into darkness and accepting his place in the criminal world.

🔞Sexual content

Note: You need to install the +18 patch from the publisher's page or you will not see any sexual content. *You can add me if you need help.

Like the previous Liminal Border games, this game does not have much sexual content, having only 5 still sex scenes, which are also mosaic censored. Which, as I said, is quite understandable considering that these are only used to add more "realism" to the story and not so much to provide the player with fap material.
As for the sex scenes that appear in the game, they are practically vanilla, with blowjobs, handjobs, vaginal sex and where the most "remarkable" is a foursome scene with the 3 heroines and the protagonist.
As for the quality of the scenes, in my opinion they are the worst of the saga, having a less pleasing to the eye art with simple drawings and lacking details such as correct body proportions or light reflections. Besides this, it also has less variety of locations, with most of them taking place in a bed, unlike the previous installments where they had sex in different places like the shower, outdoors, etc.

💭Conclusion

This installment is personally the one that I liked the most narratively speaking, but the least in terms of sexual content, so I really have mixed feelings about recommending it.
If you are a fan of the saga and have been playing since the first installment, so you want to know how the story continues, this is certainly a game you should buy because it really entertains you line after line of text, plus its duration is relatively long so you will enjoy it for a while. On the other hand, if what caught your attention either from this game or the previous installments are the heroines and you just want to see the sex scenes, this installment does not offer much that you can enjoy beyond the foursome scene. This is because the main heroine in part 3 is the least attractive/sexualized in my opinion and the sex scenes themselves are the most basic, even for what is expected from an eroge.
So, depending on what you want the game for, it will depend on whether you buy it now or wait for an offer higher or similar to 50%, because at such a price it would be worth it.

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[th]ㅤㅤㅤPros [/th]
[th]ㅤㅤCons[/th]
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[td]👍Detailed and high quality artwork[/td][td]👎Linear story without choices[/td][/tr]
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[td]👍Interesting story and good character development[/td][td]👎Needs external patch for +18 content[/td][/tr]
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[td]👍Full voice acting for all dialogues[/td][td]👎No animations[/td][/tr]
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[td]👍Variety of background music of excellent quality. [/td][td]👎Few scenes with sexual content(only 5)[/td][/tr]
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[td]👍English translation with coherent texts[/td][td]👎Mosaics censorship [/td][/tr]
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[td]👍Most sexual scenes are vanilla [/td][td]👎Low quality of the sex scenes[/td][/tr]
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[td]👍Sex scenes with voice and sexual sfx[/td][td][/td][/tr]
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[td]👍Cloud Save [/td][td][/td][/tr]
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[td]👍Gallery [/td][td][/td][/tr]

SCORE: 6.5/10 ⭐

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